FILE – A charred vehicle sits near the ruins of a home after the property was burned by the Smokehouse Creek Fire, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Fritch, Texas. Fritch Fire Chief Zeb Smith, whose small town was among the hardest hit last week by historic blazes sweeping across the Panhandle, died Tuesday, March 5, 2024, while fighting a structure fire, authorities said. Photo: Ty O'Neil/AP No Objections: Smokehouse Creek Fire MDL Petition Approval Expected
One week before Xcel Energy publicly admitted its equipment ignited the Smokehouse Creek Fire, the company informed the SEC that plaintiffs' attorney advised the company to preserve the evidence.
April 03, 2024 at 04:30 PM
6 minute read
What You Need to Know
- Plaintiffs' attorneys anticipate the Texas multidistrict litigation panel will agree to its petition to consolidate pretrial motions.
- Several law firms have filed complaints in three different district courts in the Panhandle counties.
- Xcel Energy, the main defendant, is denying negligence but admits its equipment started the fire.
Mass tort attorney Mikal Watts is not surprised to find himself at the center of the Smokehouse Creek Fire and efforts to have the Texas multidistrict litigation panel approve plaintiffs' petition.
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